Tonight's Movie: The Outriders (1950) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

Joel McCrea stars in THE OUTRIDERS (1950), an MGM Western available on DVD from the Warner Archive.

This movie was released by the Warner Archive in a remastered print in 2011. Since the Warner Archive films are manufactured on demand, it remains as easily available today as when it was first released the better part of a decade ago.

THE OUTRIDERS was a McCrea film I'd somehow not seen before today. While it isn't a perfect movie, it has a number of excellent elements which made it quite enjoyable.

The positive factors begin with the fine cast, directed by Roy Rowland, who would later direct a lesser-known Western I liked a great deal, GUN GLORY (1957).

THE OUTRIDERS gets off to a rousing start thanks to terrific theme music by Andre Previn, who was all of 20 or so when he composed the score. The colorful opening credits called to mind the style of my beloved Universal Pictures Westerns.

The story begins with three Confederate prisoners of war, played by McCrea, Barry Sullivan, and James Whitmore, killing a Union guard and escaping. This was my least favorite part of the film, as it's fairly violent for the era -- and the pleasant young soldier killed was played by William Phipps, who voiced Prince Charming in Disney's CINDERELLA (1950) that same year!

The trio make their getaway but then are caught, not by Union soldiers but by a Quantrill's Raiders type named Keeley (Jeff Corey), who threatens the men with death unless they agree to lead a wagon train carrying gold into an ambush carried out by Keeley's men.

The three men are able to join the wagon train, led by Don Antonio Chaves (Ramon Navarro), after saving it from an Indian attack. As the travelers surmount various challenges on the way from Santa Fe to St. Louis, Will (McCrea) is increasingly troubled by the prospect of the people he has come to know during the journey being killed -- especially as he's fallen in love with Jen (Arlene Dahl), the widow of a Union Army officer.

The film builds toward the confrontation between the wagon train and Keeley's raiders, as it becomes clear that Jesse (Sullivan) doesn't care if the travelers, Jen included, are killed; in fact, Will realizes that Jesse has conspired with Keeley to keep the gold rather than use it to aid the Confederate cause.

By the time the final battle occurs, it's almost anticlimactic and things go pretty much as the viewer anticipates, but as is so often the case with Westerns, it's the journey which matters more than the conclusion.

There are some really top-notch sequences in the film, starting with a strikingly memorable dance scene. One night along the trail Will has let the men unwind with some liquor and dancing, instructing Jen to stay put in her stagecoach. After a while, though, Jen comes out and dances with all the men in turn, wearing out a pair of shoes. Will helps Jen put on a new pair of shoes and they dance as they, and we, realize they have fallen in love.

It's an unexpectedly beautiful sequence in what up to that point had been an entertaining if somewhat routine Western. Though the campfire scene was shot on a soundstage, Dahl's green shoes and long red hair make for some unforgettable visuals.

This is shortly followed by an exciting river crossing sequence. While the nighttime scenes were clearly filmed on a soundstage, the movie also has excellent location work, filmed around Kanab, Utah. (There's a great photo of the cast and crew at Parry Lodge in Kanab here.) The river scenes are beautifully and realistically filmed on location.

A few years ago Blake Lucas wrote a great essay on this film for 50 Westerns From the 50s which I just reread. I especially enjoyed this, referring to the dance and river scenes: "This whole stretch of the movie would be enough to make it stand out -- and that’s true even though these events of a dance and a river crossing have a ritual quality in Westerns and are very familiar (what is arguably the greatest Western of this same year, WAGON MASTER, directed by John Ford, has both) but it’s a welcome familiarity because there is such an eternal resonance of life in both these things." Beautifully stated.

Part of what makes Westerns special is that they hold both familiarity and originality, and that's very true here, as we see the fresh takes this particular group of filmmakers brought to these memorable sequences. In the end, despite some weaker aspects including a slow-ish opening, I quite enjoyed this film and will return to it in the future.

I very much liked Dahl in this, playing a strong woman who holds her own as the lone female among a large group of men. Perhaps in part because her character is a mature widow, she is not shy or coy around Will, but shares her feelings frankly. She's seen more than her share of grief, but she also appreciates life's joys, something communicated in unspoken fashion during the dance, and she doesn't waver when everything is on the line.

McCrea is perhaps a bit more subdued in this than usual, but it may be his way of communicating his character's internal dilemma. Though he's a quiet man, we never doubt that Jen has developed feelings for him, simply because he's Joel McCrea.

Barry Sullivan is a name I'm always happy to see in a movie's opening credits; I think I most enjoy him as a "good bad guy," such as in the underrated Western DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE (1957). Here the viewer starts out rooting for his character Jesse as he escapes his wartime prison, but he increasingly reveals himself to be a man with sharp edges; he may have friends and he may also, like Will, be attracted to the lovely Jen, but in the end he's looking out for No. 1, and woe to anyone who stands in his way.

It's a pleasure seeing silent star Navarro in a sizeable role in this, and the top cast also includes Claude Jarman Jr. (the same year he appeared in John Ford's RIO GRANDE), Ted de Corsia (who drifts out of the story midway), Martin Garralaga, Dorothy Adams, and Russell Simpson.

The movie was nicely shot in Technicolor by Charles Schoenbaum, who does the best job possible mixing location filming with soundstages and back projections.

The story and screenplay of this 93-minute film were by Irving Ravetch. I just wrote a bit about Ravetch and his wife, Harriet Frank Jr., in a recent Around the Blogosphere This Week, as Harriet just passed on at the age of 96. Irving died in 2010, age 89.

The remastered Warner Archive print looks terrific. I did find myself turning the volume up and down due to variable sound levels; some of the dialogue is extremely quiet, and then that great Previn theme starts booming or the Indians start whooping!

The disc includes a nice-looking trailer.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection Store at Amazon or from any online retailers where DVDs and Blu-rays are sold.

Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...Longtime Classic Images columnist Laura Wagner has a new book out from McFarland: HOLLYWOOD'S HARD-LUCK LADIES: 23 ACTRESSES WHO SUFFERED EARLY DEATHS, ACCIDENTS, MISSTEPS, ILLNESSES AND TRAGEDIES. The book covers many actresses of interest to me including Susan Peters, Patricia Dane, Susan Cabot, Rita Johnson, and 19 others.

...This video compares the 1933, 1949, 1994, and 2019 versions of LITTLE WOMEN.

...Disney+ has already hit 26.5 million subscribers. The service went live less than three months ago, on November 12, 2019.

...A James Garner Blogathon hosted by Reelweegiemidget Reviews has included Terry writing about MAVERICK's classic "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" episode for A Shroud of Thoughts, Caftan Woman writing on three of her own favorite MAVERICK episodes, Ruth writing on SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF! (1969) for Silver Screenings, and Erica writing on THE WHEELER DEALERS (1963) at Poppity Talks Classic Film. (And many thanks to Erica for the kind shout-out in her review!)

...Happy 19th anniversary to Disney California Adventure Park.

...A store in Flagstaff, Arizona, has reunited Mark Hamill with a STAR WARS (1977) soundtrack LP signed for him by John Williams. Incidentally, the great Mr. Williams celebrates his 88th birthday today!

...Coming to Pasadena, California this July: Christmas Con, featuring appearances by many favorite Hallmark Christmas movie stars.

...I've had my eye on the Nat King Cole CD set Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943) since my dad sent me Marc Myers' piece about it posted at JazzWax last fall. I also read a post on it at Jazz Profiles. This month Leonard Maltin wrote about it. The set is pricey but looks like a must-have for Cole fans, and I'm certainly one.

...Speaking of Nat King Cole, Will Friedwald has a book on Cole, STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF NAT KING COLE, due out in May. Friedwald's past work includes the great SINATRA! THE SONG IS YOU: A SINGER'S ART.

...Notable Passings: There have been a number of notable passings in the last few days. For me personally the most significant might be the death of Robert Conrad, who has passed on at the age of 84. Conrad gave me countless hours of TV enjoyment. While most remember him from THE WILD WILD WEST (1965-69), which I certainly saw, the Conrad shows I loved were BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP, aka BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON (1976-78), and the epic miniseries CENTENNIAL (1978), seen here. When the TV Academy ignored his portrayal of Pasquinel in CENTENNIAL I lost most interest in the Emmy Awards. Classic television. He was even in a favorite MAVERICK episode, "Yellow River" (1959). Thanks for the memories, Mr. Conrad.

...Of course, we also lost Kirk Douglas this week when he passed away at the age of 103. While it's never been a secret that he is not one of my favorite actors, he nonetheless was in some movies I very much enjoy, including A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949), seen here with Linda Darnell, plus SEVEN DAYS IN MAY (1964) and the seminal film noir OUT OF THE PAST (1947). He also had a place in Disney history, starring in 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1954). Survivors include his wife Anne, who is 100; his son Michael Douglas; and his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones. Douglas was laid to rest at lovely Westwood Village Memorial Park, which I have visited several times. His son Eric is also buried at Westwood.

...Gene Reynolds (seen at right), who went from child actor to TV writer-director-producer, has passed on at 96. Reynolds began acting in the mid '30s and had a strong run at MGM where his films included OF HUMAN HEARTS (1938), BOYS TOWN (1938), and BAD LITTLE ANGEL (1939), as well as a pair of Andy Hardy movies, LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938) and ANDY HARDY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY (1941). He also played Tyrone Power as a boy in 20th Century-Fox's IN OLD CHICAGO (1938). His best-known behind-the-scenes TV work was on M*A*S*H (1972-83)...Actor Orson Bean was killed yesterday when hit by a car in Venice, California. I knew him best as Loren Bray on DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN (1993-98). He was married to actress Alley Mills and was the father-in-law of the late Andrew Breitbart...Roger Kahn, author of the baseball classic THE BOYS OF SUMMER, about the Brooklyn Dodgers, has died at 92...Film historian F.X. Feeney, who did commentary tracks on at least three DVDs in my collection, has passed away at 66.

...For additional links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my February 1st roundup.

Have a great week!

The Latest TCM Classic Film Festival Announcements

Today Turner Classic Movies announced eight new titles for this April's TCM Classic Film Festival.

Three titles especially caught my eye, as I like them all but have never seen one in a theater:

*A world premiere restoration of Rene Clair's IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (1944), a comedic fantasy starring Dick Powell and Linda Darnell. I have enthusiastically recommended this film since first seeing it over a decade ago and am thrilled that it's been restored.

*THAT NIGHT IN RIO (1941), a Technicolor 20th-Century Fox "south of the border" musical starring Alice Faye (who never looked more stunning), Don Ameche, and Carmen Miranda. This should look spectacular on a big screen, hopefully in the Egyptian Theatre.

*JEWEL ROBBERY (1932), a very amusing pre-Code comedy-romance starring William Powell and Kay Francis. I'm already predicting that this film will be so popular among pre-Code fans that it will be run again on Sunday!

These are the titles which interest me most to date, along with the previously announced THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES (1941), THAT BRENNAN GIRL (1946), and THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1956). Other titles of interest include longtime favorite THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947), which I've never seen in a theater, and I'd love to see LOST HORIZON (1937) on a big screen once more.

The newly announced titles also include the pre-Code THE SIN OF NORA MORAN (1933), which I suspect will include a pre-screening visit from former child actress Cora Sue Collins, who plays Nora as a child; Collins turns 93 the week of the festival!

The other four titles announced today were KEY LARGO (1948); THE MAD MAGICIAN (1954), which will be shown in 3D; THE WORLD, THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL (1959); and COTTON COMES TO HARLEM (1970).

There are typically at least 80 titles on the schedule, so there are many more films to be revealed in the future, but I'm very enthused about the lineup announced to date!

The annual festival will take place in Hollywood from April 16th through 19th, 2020.

Previously: TCM Announces 2020 Festival Dates and Theme (August 27, 2019); Latest TCM Classic Film Festival Announcements (December 13, 2019).

Update: New Titles and Guests Announced for 2020 TCM Classic Film Festival (March 5, 2020).

Update: 2020 TCM Classic Film Festival Cancelled (March 12, 2020).

Update: The TCM Classic Film Festival 2020 Special Home Edition (April 15, 2020).

Tonight's Movie in 2019: The Year in Review, Take Two

It's time once more for my annual video celebrating the previous year's viewing!

This video put together by my husband features posters from most of the 238 movies I watched last year. It runs just under four and a half minutes.

Click below to watch, or check it out directly at YouTube.



A couple of films I saw multiple times last year, so they are represented by multiple posters.

As usual, 2019 is already shaping up to be another wonderful movie viewing year!

Previously: The "year in review" videos for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Yesterday at Disneyland: Rise of the Resistance

A little over two weeks ago the long-awaited second ride opened in Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge.

Rise of the Resistance was promised to be a game-changer, a relatively lengthy, immersive experience incorporating multiple ride systems, including simulators and trackless vehicles, along with Cast Member role playing. We rode it yesterday, and it was definitely a unique ride experience!

Actually getting a chance to ride is a challenge for park guests at this juncture. We were up a "dark o'clock" and in line to board the parking lot bus well before 7:00 a.m. so that we could be sure of being inside the park by 8:00 a.m., when what is essentially a ride lottery opens up on the Disneyland phone app.

Many guests had the same idea! Below is the line to enter the park at 7:10 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday.

Disneyland traditionally opens the turnstiles a half an hour before "rope drop," when a rope at the end of Main Street closest to the Hub is literally dropped to allow guests to spread throughout the park's various lands.

Now, instead of everyone hurrying off to the most popular rides at 8:00 a.m., everyone huddles over their phones trying to secure a place in a Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group. Guests who want to ride together link their accounts prior to the boarding passes becoming available; if one person in the group successfully obtains the passes, the others in the party won't be able to get them but will instead receive a message that they are now part of a Boarding Group.

My husband got "in" first and we were fortunate to get Boarding Group 35, riding relatively early in the day. Only around 80 groups are guaranteed entry each day, with more visitors assigned to "backup" Boarding Groups who might be able to ride late in the day if things are running smoothly. Because of its complexity, the ride is prone to experiencing glitches and shutting down for periods of varying lengths. On the day we visited, the ride didn't even open for over two and a half hours after park opening.

Shortly before 2:00 p.m. we received the notification that it was our turn to report to the ride.

Once you receive the notice, you have two hours to arrive at the ride and scan in with your phone. This electronic sign announces the current Boarding Groups at the ride entrance.

SPOILER ALERT: I will keep my comments on what happens during the ride somewhat vague, but I will give brief descriptions and there are also some queue and ride photos following; anyone who hasn't yet been on the ride and wants to experience it "cold" should stop reading here.

The queue, seen above and in the two photos below, is quite long but atmospheric, setting the mood for the experience which follows. There are so many decorative details both preceding and during the ride that it will take many repeat visits to take it all in.

The experience kicks off with an impressive hologram in which Rey (Daisy Ridley) explains the mission to our group of Resistance fighters. More information is provided by Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) via a video screen.

We board a transport (a simulator) to take us off Batuu but we're caught by a tractor beam and pulled into an Imperial Star Destroyer. We're instructed to exit the transport, where we're greeted by this sight in the docking bay:

First Order officers instruct us to line up before eventually placing us in a holding cell. Cast members role playing in the ride is one of many new concepts which are part of Rise of the Resistance.

Eventually we're rescued from our prison (a spectacularly good moment), and we then hurriedly board a different type of transport vehicle, which takes us on a wild "dark ride" through the destroyer as we attempt to find a way to leave the ship. This journey is impossibly long -- I wondered if it's longer than the Pirates of the Caribbean layout -- and includes racing under a pair of AT-ATs, among other things!

We were quite impressed by the entire thing. Technically, I was especially wowed by the trackless vehicle entering a simulator for the last part of the ride, yet at the same time I was definitely immersed in the story.

I won't say anything more specific, but for those who would like further details, please visit Brady MacDonald's detailed review for the Orange County Register.

Todd Pickering's review of the entire Galaxy's Edge concept was published last Friday at MousePlanet.

For anyone who either can't visit or has already been on the ride, this is one of the better ride experience videos I've seen.

May the Force Be With You!

Previously: Today at Disneyland: Opening Day of Galaxy's Edge, Part 1. Links to three additional posts covering opening day may be found at the end of that post.

A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery

Last Sunday we spent the day in the Hollywood area, starting off with a 35mm screening of NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH (1940) at the Egyptian Theatre.

I hadn't seen the movie in a number of years and had a thoroughly good time revisiting it, especially on film on the Egyptian's huge screen.

Our day ended with dinner with our daughter, and in between dinner and the movie we spent a couple of hours visiting Valhalla Cemetery in North Hollywood.

Valhalla is a serene if slightly worn cemetery which is close to a century old, dating from 1923. There are a great many filmmakers buried at Valhalla; while we found some of the burial sites below thanks to prior research, we stumbled across others by chance as we walked the grounds.

A favorite actress, Gail Russell, is buried at Valhalla. Favorite films Russell starred in include ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (1947), SEVEN MEN FROM NOW (1956), and THE UNINVITED (1944).

Martha Vickers, who most famously played Carmen Sternwood in THE BIG SLEEP (1946), is buried at Valhalla under her married name. I also particularly appreciate Vickers for her appearance in a minor but rather lovely Warner Bros. musical, THE TIME, THE PLACE AND THE GIRL (1946). Before her final marriage, Vickers was married briefly to producer A.C. Lyles and then to Mickey Rooney.

As we walked around we happened across the final resting place of actor Robert Lowery, who I first knew thanks to his appearances on my favorite TV series, MAVERICK. He was long married to actress Jean Parker.

Just two spots away from Robert Lowery is the gravesite of Jonathan Hale. An actor with nearly 250 credits to his name, he was a regular in the Saint movie series and played J.C. Dithers in the BLONDIE films. The Find a Grave site indicates that the grave was at one point unmarked, so I assume this stone was provided by classic film fans.

Cliff Edwards, also known as Ukelele Ike, had a long career, but I think he was most beloved and remembered today for voicing Jiminy Cricket in Disney's PINOCCHIO (1940). He voiced Jiminy Cricket in many other Disney productions, including FUN AND FANCY FREE (1947) and the "I'm No Fool" series of educational shorts.

Canadian character actor Douglass Dumbrille had over 200 credits in his career. A familiar face to classic film fans, his roles ranged from a couple of silent movies to his final appearance, in TV's BATMAN (1966). I particularly appreciated him in an atypical Wyatt Earp type role in a minor yet very well done Johnny Mack Brown Western, FLAME OF THE WEST (1945).

Mae Murray began in silent films over a century ago, in 1916, leaving films behind in 1931. Today she is probably best remembered for playing the title role in the silent version of THE MERRY WIDOW (1925). She also starred in the delightful comedy THE DELICIOUS LITTLE DEVIL (1919), which I enjoyed at the 2019 Cinecon Festival.

Claire McDowell began in silent films in 1908; she appeared in films through 1945. Her final film role, in fact, was a bit part in a movie I very recently reviewed, ADVENTURE (1945). She had major roles in the silent classics BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST (1925) and THE BIG PARADE (1925).

Fuzzy Knight is a name well-known to Western fans; he played sidekicks to the hero and supporting roles in Westerns in the majority of his nearly 200 movie credits. His name turns up in the casts of many Westerns I've reviewed here.

Willie Best supplied comedy relief in over 130 films including THE GHOST BREAKERS (1940) with Bob Hope. He also had a terrific role as an attendant at the Wyoming state legislature who advises Loretta Young on lobbying and passing bills in THE LADY FROM CHEYENNE (1941).

Given the times, as a black character actor Best also played numerous train porters. It's interesting to note that Sam McDaniel, who made a real specialty of playing train porters (over 60 times!), is also buried at Valhalla; we hope to locate McDaniel's final resting place on a future visit.

Actress Vivienne Osborne appeared in films beginning in silents in 1920, with her last role coming in DRAGONWYCK in 1946. She's been reviewed here in THE FAMOUS FERGUSON CASE (1931), THE DARK HORSE (1932), and more.

Gladys George was a terrific character actress whose best known roles included THE ROARING TWENTIES (1939), THE MALTESE FALCON (1941), THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946), and FLAMINGO ROAD (1949). She was in films from 1919 to 1954, the year of her passing.

Comedy giant Oliver Hardy is also at Valhalla.

In addition to his gravestone (above), Hardy is honored with a special plaque (below).

Finally, there's a memorial plaque at Valhalla for famed stuntman Yakima Canutt.

Valhalla is big enough there were many names we didn't have time to locate, and we hope to make another visit at some point in the future.

In the meantime, I hope those who cannot be there in person will join me in remembering and appreciating the lives and work of all of the actors mentioned above. As it says on Jonathan Hale's gravestone, "We Remembered You."

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3, A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, and A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park.

Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...Book news: Film historian Scott Nollen, author of THREE BAD MEN: JOHN FORD, JOHN WAYNE, WARD BOND (2013), had two books published by McFarland last year: TAKASHI SHIMURA: CHAMELEON OF JAPANESE CINEMA and CHESTER MORRIS: HIS LIFE AND CAREER. I hope to read both titles, as I find the topics of considerable interest.

...As some readers may recall, I've become quite a fan of the Fast & Furious movie series over the last few years; the first film was nearly two decades ago, in 2001, and I started watching them around five years ago. The trailer for this summer's F9: THE FAST SAGA (2020) dropped yesterday, and I can hardly wait for May to arrive. Some of the trailer made me laugh till I cried, as it's completely insane, and I was also excited by the return of a presumed-dead character. Like any good soap opera, the F&F movies periodically resurrect "dead" characters; this one is at least the third in the last 20 years. (Maybe there's hope for the return of Gal Gadot's character!)

...Coming in March from Flicker Alley: 3-D RARITIES: VOLUME II. It will include EL CORAZON Y LA ESPADA (1953), also known as THE HEART AND THE SWORD or THE SWORD OF GRANADA, starring Cesar Romero and Katy Jurado; the ballet short THE BLACK SWAN (1951); and a selection of Harold Lloyd's 3-D photographs, presented by Suzanne Lloyd. I saw some of Lloyd's 3-D Disneyland photos exhibited at the 2015 D23 Expo and was really wowed by seeing them.

...Coming from ClassicFlix in April: AFRICA SCREAMS (1949) starring Abbott & Costello. It's a limited edition capped at 3000 units. The plentiful extras include a commentary track, radio show, comic book, and much more.

...Will McKinley has interviewed James Garner's daughter Gigi for GetTV.

...Will also alerted me to an interesting story about the rising sales of VHS tapes.

...Raquel does some amazing previews of upcoming film books at her blog Out of the Past, and her latest list is no exception. I'm still wading through it making a list of the titles which interest me! A top priority will be PHANTOM LADY: HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER JOAN HARRISON, THE FORGOTTEN WOMAN BEHIND HITCHCOCK, which will be released next week on February 4th. Joan Harrison also worked with actor-director Robert Montgomery on some excellent films including RIDE THE PINK HORSE (1947) and ONCE MORE, MY DARLING (1949).

...Karl Malden's former home in Brentwood recently sold. The Los Angeles Times has a photo tour.

...Movie studios have renewed deals with Kodak for the company to keep making film. Some movies are (thankfully!) still shot on film, including the newest version of LITTLE WOMEN (2019).

...Coming April 7th from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: MURDER, HE SAYS (1945) starring Fred MacMurray, Helen Walker, and Marjorie Main. I saw this as a kid at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Leo S. Bing Theater and wasn't very impressed, finding it awfully strange, but I'm very curious to take a fresh look and see how I respond to it in 2020. It will have a commentary track by Michael Schlesinger (who coincidentally I just chatted with at an Egyptian Theatre screening last weekend) and Cinecon's Stan Taffel.

...A very realistic Baby Yoda (aka "The Child") can be yours for a mere $350! Coming next summer from Sideshow Collectibles.

...Yesterday it was announced the Netflix's series THE CROWN will end with Season 5, starring Imelda Staunton as the Queen. Season 4, with Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth, is currently filming.

...There are now 150 million Amazon Prime members worldwide. Wow.

..."CineSavant" Glenn Erickson has reviewed the Warner Archive's new Blu-ray of UNDERWATER! (1955). I'll be reviewing that one myself in the near future. Jane Russell, Richard Egan, and Gilbert Roland star.

...Here a reminiscence of the wonderful musical THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (1967) by Marc Myers at JazzWax.

...Ivan just wrote about a Dan Duryea film I enjoyed, THE UNDERWORLD STORY (1950), at his blog Thrilling Days of Yesteryear.

...Jazz fans in Connecticut might like to know that the Dave Brubeck Collection, previously located at California's University of the Pacific, may now be found at the Wilton Library in Wilton, Connecticut.

...Attention Southern Californians: The 1933 version of LITTLE WOMEN will be shown in 35mm at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on February 23rd. It's part of the Egyptian's new Sunday matinee series, screening at 1:00 p.m. I hope to be there.

...More for Southern Californians: Retroformat is hosting a centennial screening of Mary Pickford's POLLYANNA (1920) at the Woman's Club of Hollywood at 1749 North La Brea Avenue. Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Cliff Retallick. More information about Retroformat may be found in this article from last summer.

...Notable Passings: Monique van Vooren has passed on at 92. She appeared with Lex Barker in TARZAN AND THE SHE-DEVIL (1953) and was in the opening credits sequence of TEN THOUSAND BEDROOMS (1957). She also had a bit role in GIGI (1958)...Longtime soap opera actress Marj Dusay has died at 83. She appeared in several different soaps over the years; she also appeared in the final episode of James Garner's one-season series BRET MAVERICK (1982). Her film roles include a bit part in the Elvis film CLAMBAKE (1968) and playing General MacArthur's wife opposite Gregory Peck in MACARTHUR (1977)...TV programmer Fred Silverman, who was a big name when I was a kid, has passed away at 82. Silverman's career was equal parts dreck and brilliance; he was behind "jiggle TV" and airing the infamously bad SUPERTRAIN (1978), but he also programmed shows like THE WALTONS (1972) and HILL STREET BLUES (1981)...It was announced last week that race driver John Andretti has died of cancer at 56...Writer Mary Higgins Clark has passed on at 92...Screenwriter Harriet Frank Jr., who worked with her late husband Irving Ravetch, has died at 96. Their films included MURPHY'S ROMANCE (1985) with James Garner and Sally Field. Frank's career went back to the late '40s, including the screenplay for WHIPLASH (1948) starring Dane Clark, Zachary Scott, and Alexis Smith.

...For additional links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my January 25th roundup.

Have a great week!